Dual monitor setup with laptop and monitor

[Pastore]

Ok, I want to be able to hook up my trinitron to my laptop to be able to play games on it. I got it to go into dual monitor support in the settings, but where it says "Use this device as the primary monitor" it is greyed out. What do I need to do to get this working? Thanks.

 

[Pastore]

yo help a brutha out

 

[Pastore]

Come on, someones got to know.

 

[herrschreck]

It depends on your video card.

Almost all laptops will "mirror" a signal to a monitor, not that many will do "extended display."

Mirror is same image, extended monitors is like have two screens.

You see the box because Windows would do it if it could. It's greyed out becuase it can't do it.

----

If this is not what you are talking about, then maybe do the Function toggle until the LCD is blacked out and the monitor is visible, it will then be your primary monitor.

 

[Pastore]

Where is the function toggle? The only place I found this stuff is in display settings, where else are there options?

 

[herrschreck]

Originally posted by: Beast1284
Where is the function toggle?

On the keyboard there should be a "Fn" button (maybe blue text?) and one of the F keys above the numbers should have a little dual monitor looking icon on it or say CRT/LCD.

Hold down Fn and cycle through the upper F key.

 

[Pastore]

Just tried that with no luck. I have the trinitron working in dual monitor mode right now, so I am getting an image to it, just can't figure out how to either mirror it to the CRT, or make it the main display. Thanks for pointing out that feature though.

 

[Pastore]

help

 

[ableach33]

Goto the advanced display settings and click Utility Manager - you were already there... Goto Driver Mode Settings and to make them stop being grey, unclick auto. This should allow you to change the settings to mirror...

 

[vetteguy]

Do you have Windows XP? I know that XP (or even 2000 probably) will allow you to setup the monitors the way you want to.

 

[Pastore]

Originally posted by: ableach33
Goto the advanced display settings and click Utility Manager - you were already there... Goto Driver Mode Settings and to make them stop being grey, unclick auto. This should allow you to change the settings to mirror...

I can't find Driver Mode Settings. Can you be more specific as to where I can find it? I am on XP Home.

 

[Pastore]

up

 

[Pastore]

up

 

[ableach33]

Display Properties, Settings, Advanced, Utility Manager, Driver Mode Settings should be in that window..

 

[Pastore]

Yeah, I don't have a Utility Manager tab though.

 

[jschuk]

What laptop is it and what video chip does it use?

 

[Pastore]

Originally posted by: jschuk
What laptop is it and what video chip does it use?

Dell Inspiron 8200. Uses the Geforce4 440 Go processor.

 

[Pastore]

Let's try again.

 

[Eug]

Try booting with the second monitor already attached on turned on.

AFAIK, the Geforce 4 Go 440 should be able to do either mirroring or spanning. Personally I find that the nVidia laptop display drivers are suck though.

ATI's are a little better but not perfect. Nothing beats the Mac laptop display drivers for ease of use though.

 

[Pastore]

Originally posted by: Eug
Try booting with the second monitor already attached on turned on. AFAIK, the Geforce 4 Go 440 should be able to do either mirroring or spanning. Personally I find that the nVidia laptop display drivers are suck though. ATI's are a little better but not perfect. Nothing beats the Mac laptop display drivers for ease of use though.

I did get the second monitor to go into dual monitor mode expanding the desktop. And I did try restarting with it already attached, didn't work. I have been trying to find mirroring options but can't find any.

 

[RPB]

on my toshba 5105-503 with geforce 4-440 under display settings

click advanced

then click nview

then click device settings

then click select out put device and change from digital to tv for tv, or analog for a crt monitor.

 

[Pastore]

Originally posted by: RPB
on my toshba 5105-503 with geforce 4-440 under display settings click advanced then click nview then click device settings then click select out put device and change from digital to tv for tv, or analog for a crt monitor.

Ok, I just looked there, and it is also greyed out. The laptop LCD is locked on Digital, and the CRT is locked on Analog. The other options for the monitor including the output are all greyed out.

 

[RPB]

did you try reinstalling the driver?

 

[Pastore]

Originally posted by: RPB
did you try reinstalling the driver?

I was thinking about it but the laptop is only a month old and I have never touched the video drivers in it so I didn't think that would be the problem. I have a feeling I am just missing an option somewhere.

 

[BHeemsoth]

OK so if the laptop is a month old, the drivers could still be 5 months old. Try downloading the newest driver and the neview utility from nvidia.